"That might be somebody else’s view (that Ferdinand's meeting with Chelsea was a coincidence) but it's not my view. My concern is my supporters and I’m just letting my supporters know that I’m not happy with it and it’s an issue we’re discussing at the moment.
"We believe Rio Ferdinand (who has said that he did not know Kenyon would be present at the meeting with Zahavi). Whatever way he was enticed to the meeting, I do believe he wants to sign a contract and wants to stay here. We’ve had a meeting this morning and it went well. I’m sure we’re very close to signing a long-term contract, which would put an end to an interesting week.
"But I can’t say I was over- encouraged by Peter Kenyon’s words that they are ‘not interested in signing Rio Ferdinand’. Being chief executive of a Premier League club with the history they have had in recent times, for him to still sit in a restaurant (with another club’s player), I don’t know what this is, whether it’s contempt or whether they’re thumbing their noses at us. I would say that is at very least ill-advised.
"We will leave the matter to the FA now. I think they’re aware of it. We are definitely discussing it, but my supporters have to know how I feel about this. I believe Rio Ferdinand. I know he wants to sign a new contract with us and this is partly what this morning has been about."